Full Version: Parker 51 Experiences
Well, I was lucky enough to pick up another 2 Parker 51's at the car boot today for a very low price. I so far have accumulated 9 of them but only one has not had problems with ink flow when I first start to use them. Most pens I can sort out easily with a good flush but the 51 is a devil to get going even with Parker Washable Blue. Any tips apart from keep on using them hoping they improve?
Have you tried soaking it overnight with a little bit of ammonia?
Generally the Parker 51 needs the hood removed and the collector, feed and nib fully cleaned to get them to really write like they should.
Sometimes you can get by with a real good cleaning with an ultrasound cleaner...
If you want to try a good cleaning before having to take the hood off to this:
Flush with water until it runs real clear...
Then flush again with a 10-15% ammonia/water solution... you will probably see more ink coming out...
Fill the pen completely with the ammonia solution and let it sit in the solution with the hood covered overnight...
Do the ammonia flush again and then follow by a clear water flush until it runs clean...
Wrap the nib and hood in paper towel and flick in a downward motion quickly a bunch of times to get most of the remaining water out of the pen and collector...
Wrap the nib and hood in clean dry paper towel and allow to sit, nib down, overnight...
Then fill the pen and write.... it may take a couple of hours for the collector to fully fill with ink and write as wet and dark as you want....
If all this fails, the hood needs to come off and do a complete cleaning.
Sometimes you can get by with a real good cleaning with an ultrasound cleaner...
If you want to try a good cleaning before having to take the hood off to this:
Flush with water until it runs real clear...
Then flush again with a 10-15% ammonia/water solution... you will probably see more ink coming out...
Fill the pen completely with the ammonia solution and let it sit in the solution with the hood covered overnight...
Do the ammonia flush again and then follow by a clear water flush until it runs clean...
Wrap the nib and hood in paper towel and flick in a downward motion quickly a bunch of times to get most of the remaining water out of the pen and collector...
Wrap the nib and hood in clean dry paper towel and allow to sit, nib down, overnight...
Then fill the pen and write.... it may take a couple of hours for the collector to fully fill with ink and write as wet and dark as you want....
If all this fails, the hood needs to come off and do a complete cleaning.
I agree with Tom a big expert.
I only recently strated to buy and use "51"s and as soon as they arrived I took of hood, extracted nib and feed and gave a good soak.
The nib slips off the feed and under the nib you may amsl find dired ink that will affect the capilliary flow.
Good luck and hope you enjoy your pens.
Armchop
It maybe that hood off is the only way. I'll try the ammonia though. Its times like this I really appreciate just how good the 45 is for DIY repairs!
| QUOTE (hatherton_wood @ Mar 25 2007, 04:57 PM) |
| I really appreciate just how good the 45 is for DIY repairs! |
Smartypants question: You do know, don't you, that the 45 has a real functioning collector buried (nonremovably) in the section? If that collector isn't cleaned out, the pen may not write as it should.
Agreed, and yet the 45 never seems to have the same issues with poor flow after not being used . A few minutes is all it takes with all the 45s I have ever had to get them flowing properly again. Just unscrew the nib and flush through with cold water - that is all they ever seem to need.
I have bought a couple dozen or more Parker "51"s, mostly on ebay, and only 15-20% or so have had flow issues after I've let them soak overnight. Some need the tines tweaked a little bit. I think unfortunately you have been unlucky, or maybe I've been lucky.
How much do they tend to cost, RonB?
| QUOTE (Bayes @ Mar 25 2007, 08:14 PM) |
| How much do they tend to cost, RonB? |
Well, it depends how hard you want to work at it
I've bought most of mine for between $30 and $60 depending upon a lot of factors. Rarer colors and caps are more expensive. For example, you can sometimes find a nice Aero in black with a gold cap in pretty good condition for $50-80. But you take a risk with some of these in that 20% or so are not as nice as you hope for. Restored vacs are generally more expensive. Most are $75-100, again for the common versions.The average run of the mill Aero on Ebay is now probably $50 or so, up from last year. They can be found for less, but you have to bid on a bunch in order to get lucky.
Wait till you get a 45 with a full load of permanent black in dried out in that collector!
Takes for every to get rid of it, every bit as long a time as using ink to get a similar bunch of dried ink out of a "51".
They are easier to clean out, as you just have to unscrew the unsealed nib holder -- but it takes a sonicating bath and some time to get all the ink out of the collector!
Peter
Takes for every to get rid of it, every bit as long a time as using ink to get a similar bunch of dried ink out of a "51".
They are easier to clean out, as you just have to unscrew the unsealed nib holder -- but it takes a sonicating bath and some time to get all the ink out of the collector!
Peter
| QUOTE (RonB @ Mar 25 2007, 07:49 PM) |
| I have bought a couple dozen or more Parker "51"s, mostly on ebay, and only 15-20% or so have had flow issues after I've let them soak overnight. Some need the tines tweaked a little bit. I think unfortunately you have been unlucky, or maybe I've been lucky. |
I just got my first "51" in the mail today. When you say soak overnight, do you mean:
1) filled with water and with the cap on (if so pointing up, down, or horizontal?)
or
2) filled with water and a little soap (and the above question)
or
3) filled with water and in a cup with the nib immersed in water
or
4) some configuration of the above, but with ammonia in the water?
I don't think I have any ammonia in the house.
I have picked up a dozen or so "51"s at yard sales and flea markets over the years, usually two or three per year. I generally pay $5 to $10. I have paid up to $25 for a flighter . I only collect aerometrics as I don't do vacumatic repair.
| QUOTE (Bayes @ Apr 6 2007, 03:40 PM) |
| I just got my first "51" in the mail today. When you say soak overnight, do you mean: 1) filled with water and with the cap on (if so pointing up, down, or horizontal?) or 2) filled with water and a little soap (and the above question) or 3) filled with water and in a cup with the nib immersed in water or 4) some configuration of the above, but with ammonia in the water? I don't think I have any ammonia in the house. |
I have often gotten away with just cleaning them with water and a little bit of dishwashing liquid mixed into the solution. OldGriz among others have pointed out that this doesn't always work, and in a few cases, it hasn't worked for me. The addition of 10-15% ammonia makes a big difference if you have dried ink.
I put the pen nib down into the solution and press the ribbed bar a few times to fill it. Empty and repeat a number of times. You may need to then let the nib soak in an inch or two of the solution overnight, or even over a couple of nights.
If there is no more ink present and you seem to be emptying just water, then you may almost be done. Wrap the nib end of the pen in a paper towel and then vigorously shake the ink out, which removes it from the collector. I hold the pen at the top of my head and bend my elbow quickly, bringing the pen down towards the floor. Don’t let it go! You may have to do this a few times if you still see ink coming out.
After it appears clear of ink, empty and fill using just clear water (if you've used the solution). Empty and repeat a number of times. After emptying the pen of water, wrap the nib and lower part of the pen in a paper towel and then place the paper towel in a small glass or cup with the nib down. This will allow any remaining water to wick out of the nib.
The last ebay “bargain" I bought took me three days to clear of old ink. Many just need a few rinses. Good luck!
Paul, those look great, especially at those prices!
So far it looks so good. I've flushed it several times with water and with water with some dishwashing liquid in it. It has never run anything but clear. Now I've got it wicking on some paper towels, which I'll let it do overnight.
All this water and soaking makes me wonder about rust, but I guess the materials the pen is made out of won't rust.
By the way, if you're interested in which one it is, here's the auction from eBay.
I think I got a pretty good price thanks to advice from this board. I want this just to write with so I figured the monogram and inkstained jewel would drive down the price. I don't know if I hit Old Griz levels, and I certainly paid more than Paul LeMay did for his, but I feel pretty good about.
Of course, the proof is in the pudding so I won't know until I ink it.
All this water and soaking makes me wonder about rust, but I guess the materials the pen is made out of won't rust.
By the way, if you're interested in which one it is, here's the auction from eBay.
I think I got a pretty good price thanks to advice from this board. I want this just to write with so I figured the monogram and inkstained jewel would drive down the price. I don't know if I hit Old Griz levels, and I certainly paid more than Paul LeMay did for his, but I feel pretty good about.
Of course, the proof is in the pudding so I won't know until I ink it.
So, I flushed it several times (a few times with soap, then many more with plain water) and it has run clear for several flushes. I also put it nib-down into a cup filled with paper towels. At first some water came out, but now it just sits there dry.
I can see that there are some droplets inside the sac. That's not a problem, right? Is there a way to get every drop out? Is that even important?
I can see that there are some droplets inside the sac. That's not a problem, right? Is there a way to get every drop out? Is that even important?
Don't sweat it -- it will only dilute the new ink a small amount, if at all. More important is that the pen fill completely. If not, the breather is bad and will need to be replaced.
Peter
Peter
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